Job Description
Watco positions a Conductor to coordinate train movements in yards and industrial plants, directing switching of railcars loaded with cargo like grain or industrial materials, which supports efficient unloading at terminals and ports. This role ensures safe sequencing of cars for on-time deliveries, resolving bottlenecks in supply chains for customers relying on rail logistics.
Watco manages short-line railroads, switching sites, terminals, and ports to keep global supply chains moving, recognized by Forbes and Newsweek for its culture, with operations training at the Safe Performance Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
Workers supervise train crews, follow switching orders using radios and hand signals, couple and uncouple cars with levers and hoses, and maintain records of car numbers, origins, and destinations. They operate in yards with locomotives, track switches, and warning signals like flares, interacting via radio with dispatchers and engineers. One challenge is performing manual labor in varying weather, including lifting, climbing, and quick decisions during delays or obstructions.
Starting pay is $22 per hour, at sites like Great Bend, Kansas, with shifts in yards around industrial areas. Schedules vary with nights and days to cover train movements 24/7. Benefits include competitive compensation, paid training, leadership programs through Watco University, career advancement, quarterly incentives, 136 hours paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, tuition reimbursement, referral bonuses, recognition rewards, paid volunteer time, employee discounts, and wellness incentives up to $100 annually.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance
- Follow written and verbal directions to complete assigned tasks on schedule
- Read, write, and communicate in English & understand basic math
- Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes and apply procedures using good judgment
- Reads switching orders from designated person
- Supervises and coordinates the activities of train crews
- Receives oral or written instructions from Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched
- Notifies engineer of switching orders and, whereby, which cars are to be moved to specified locations of yard, using radio, verbal or hand signals
- Talks to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information
- Confers with train dispatcher via radio to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains
- Gives instructions to throw track switches and to couple and uncouple cars
- May assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations
- Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well to apply and release handbrakes
- Observes track to detect obstructions
- Maintains records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched
- May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower
- Raises coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars
- Throws track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signals Engineer to move cars, using lantern, arm signals or radio
- Connects air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force
- May set warning signals, such as flares, flags, or lanterns at front of and at rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains
- Sits or rides in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members
- May make minor repairs to couplings, and air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs
- Talk to Dispatcher via radio to give or receive switching information
Requirements
- High school education or general education (GED) or 3 to 6 months job-related experience; or equivalent of education and experience
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
- Ability to speak effectively
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form
- Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations
- Must be able to pass and or obtain all reporting, testing, and certifications as required for this position